Being a university student isn't easy; for many, it can be the true bridge between youth and adulthood. It's a transitional period, a period of change and growth, in which oftentimes, we are searching for our place in the world. And within the modern-day bustle of university life, we are often weighed down by these pressures of our futures: what do I need to do now to obtain success in the future?
I need to get a 4.0 GPA, I need to gain research experience, I need to find an internship, I need to perfect my resume, I need to take on part-time jobs to diversify my resume, I need to network with people in my field, I need to attend industry events, I need to—
Stop…
Take a moment…
And breathe.
Of course, these matters are important to think about as you live through your life, but there are times when plans become burdens and hopes become anxieties. You have agency over your life; your present actions guide your future, that is true. But faltering slightly or a few missteps will not derail the entire trajectory of your life. You don't need to do every single thing absolutely perfectly to ensure success because it's impossible to ensure success. There isn't a system where if you complete ten tasks, you will get a job. Even if you do complete those ten tasks, you still might not get a job; you simply cannot predict what the outcome will be. Rather, our goal is to maximize our chances to the best of our abilities and within our capacity.
This means that it's not just about being optimized for 100% productivity; in the rush of school and life, it can be easy to forget that we are only humans with limited time, energy and resources. We place such value on things that we believe will yield results that we forget that self-preservation is just as valuable, if not more. If you are constantly running at 100%, trying to take on every single thing you can get your hands on with the idea that it will guarantee your shots at that job opportunity. First of all, you're going to break down, and second of all, you're setting yourself up for disappointment if you fail and don't get that job.
So truly, if as you're reading this article, you're realizing this might be you, I implore you to slow down, take a step back and think for a moment. You shouldn't just be advocating for your future self; you also need to advocate for your present self. And that means taking care of your body and your health, whether it's physical, mental, emotional etc. Career wellness is necessary to achieve a balanced, happy life. If you're trapped in a mindset of constantly trying to do the most, you may find time slipping away from you quickly as it is replaced with regrets of what could've been. Time spent on toiling that could've been spent with friends and family or cultivating passions and hobbies. Of course, that is not to say that working towards your goals isn't important. But if your life is consumed by this, you will find yourself always trying to reach for something instead of savouring the now as well.
With that being said, here's my advice: know your goals, recognize that they are constantly evolving and changing, and try your best to achieve them. But remember that trying your best doesn't mean sacrificing everything, including your current health and happiness, for the prospects of health and happiness in the future. It means working within your capacity and recognizing how much productivity you can achieve while maintaining yourself throughout the way. This isn't an easy process; it takes time to find balance. And even if you find balance at one point in your life, that balance may no longer work at another point in your life. Really, you are always striving to strike that balance that aligns with you at that given time.
And that means taking care of your body and your health, whether it's physical, mental, emotional etc.
Stop…
Take a moment…
And breathe.
